The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-17
TIE SONS OF TEMPERANCE.
SUGGESTIONS WHICH ARE INTENDED TO
PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE
ORDER.

Essay Read before the Abbeville d.
vision, by Mr. Hugh Wilson, Jr..
Monday Night. August y. 1857. and
Published at Request of ResOlu.
tiOn Adopted by the Division.
Appletnn's and Chambers Cyclop@dias
state that the people Of the United States
were tho first to enact laws to restrain in
Temperance. They say that religious So
cieties as early as l760 began to protest
against the use OF Intoxicating liquors at
funerals. The first Continental Congress
in 1774, recommended "the several Legis-
latures of the United States Immediately
to pass laws the most etfectual for putting
an immediate stop to the pernicious prac-
tice of distilling'' Intoxicating liquors.
1t was not, however, until the beginning
of the present century that any organ
lied effort was made to suppress drunk
enress and to promote temperance. In
1872 the General Assem- bly, Of the Presby-
terian church appointed a committee to
devise means to prevent the evils arising
from intemperance.
The first National Temperance Conven-
ton was held in Philadelphia in May,
1888, composed of 400 delegates from 2l
States, including large number of cler-
Gymen Of all denominations, who took
morally wrong, and ought to be abandon
ed throughout the world. There were at
that time about 2,2OO divisions and 10000
members of the temperance organiza-
tions, and the organized movement to
suppress Eeindiscriminates sale Of intOxi-
eating liquors may he dated from that
time.
In 1882 the war department of the Unit
ed States substituted coffee and sugar for
the rations of "grog," which had been
previously issued to the soldiers.
The "Washingtonian Temperance So
ciety" was formed in Baltimore, April s.,
ls40, by six men Of Incorporate habits,
and was afterwards Joined by l,5O0 men
of like Incorporate habits.
The first division Of our own beloved
and honored order of the Sons of Tempe
rance was organized IN New York city in
1912. Other Divisions were soon there
after formed in many portions of the
United States. The mem bership of the
order rapidly increased until it reached a
maximum membership in 1850 of quar-
ter Of millio , and it may be added, that
the Courts of the country, with singular
unanimity, about this time arrayed them
selves against this moral reform which
promised its benefcent results to every
part of the country.
The temperance reformers were baffled
and discouraged, but now they are mar
shaling their forces, and will continue
the good fight for temperance, for sober
citizenship, for happy homes, and for ma
terial prosperity, until the sale of intoxi-
hibited. No assumed imperial power by
the courts in favor of the monstrous i'll
iquity, which we are laboring to suppress,
can withstand the moral power Of de-
termined people whose cause is just.
Tho American Cyclopadia says that:
Maine passed prohibitory law in 1916;
Through the instrumentality of Neal
Dow heavy penalties were added in lS5l'
This law was repealed in 1856, and a
stringent licence law substituted, but af-
ter two years Of license with increase
of Grim and poverty, prohibition again
became the policy Of that State, and re-
mains so until this day.
Delaware was the second State to enact
a prohibitory law in 1917, and in lS4S the
courts pronounced it unconstitutional.
In May, 1852, Rhode Island passed a
prohibitory law, which the United States
circuit court pronounced unconstitution-
al.
a prohibitory law. which still remains.
enacted in 1853. 1t was pronounced un-
constitutional because submitted to a
vote of the people. 1t was reenacted in
1855. In 1875 the law was repealed.
A prohibitory law vas enacted in Indl-
ana in 1858. The courts pronounced it
unconstitutional.
In 1853 Connecticut passed prohibit
tory law. The Governor vetoed it.
In Iowa a prohibitory law WIS passed
in 1855. That law still exists.
The New York Legislature passed
strong prohibitory law in 1854 which was
vetoed by Governor Seymour. The next
year it was passed, and in 1856 affirmed
by the Court of Appeals. In New York
city the Governor did not attempt to en-
force it.
New Hampshire passed prohibitory
law in 1855, which is still in force.
Til Legislature of Illinois passed pro-
hibitory law which was defeated when
submitted to the people.
It will thus be seen that the courts in
that day, as they have done in later days,
assumed extra judicial powers. They
annulled the mora! laws which may have
had the effect of restraining their own
appetites. =,
The sophistry put forth by the learned
urists Of that day, and the false reason
ing of distinguished citizens Of former
day in their alleged argument that
the morals Of the people cantfOt be I'M
proved by legislation, is lacking of foun-
dation in common sense, and the logic OF
reason. All such talk is as meaningless
as the sound Of the wind, and as ineffec-
tllal as the babbling Of the brook.
Six of the ten commandments, as de-
livered from Mount Sinai, are moral
laws.
Nearly all the laws on the statute books
of the country are moral laws.
The marriage law is moral law.
The law which requires us to observe
the Sabbath day is moral law.
The law against murder is moral law.
The law to compel us to pay our debts
is moral law.
The law against theft is moral law.
The law against perjury is moral law.
The law which forbids the publication
Of vulgar pictures and obscene booksis
moral law.
In fact nearly all the laws are moral
laws, and yet committee OF learned ola
Judges, supported by few old fossils,
cry out that these moral laws which will
prevent men from becoming beasts,
which will prevent husbands from bring
ing their families to destruction. anu
which will restrain the murderer's hand,
are unconstitutional and against public
policy.
The first Division of Sons Of Temper
ance of which the essayist was a men,
ber was in 1856, i'll tho town of Newberry.
That Division was presided over by
much respected citizen, some of whose
relatives are honored members Of this
Division. To me the fact of former de-
lghtful association with the relatives of
mcmb bers of this Division lends all addi-
tional charm to this temple which has